BYU to play Louisville in NCAA tournament

2015 NCAA Women's Basketball Championships bracket

PROVO, Utah - After winning the automatic bid from the West Coast Conference, No. 14 seed BYU women's basketball is set to play No. 3 seed Louisville at the Sun Dome in Tampa Bay, Florida on Saturday at 4 p.m. EST on ESPN2.

This is the second-straight appearance in the NCAA tournament and sixth-straight postseason tournament for the Cougars (23-9, 12-6). Last year, BYU made it to the Sweet Sixteen as a No. 12 seed, upsetting No. 5 seed NC State and No. 4 seed Nebraska in the process.

No. 10 Louisville is 25-6, 12-4 in conference play, earning a No. 3 seed in the ACC tournament, losing in the semifinals. This is the Cardinals' first year in the ACC and fifth season with 20-plus wins. In 2013, they were the national runner-up, losing to UCONN in the championship game. Last year, Louisville advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. This game is just the second meeting between the schools. The Cardinals lead the series 1-0, winning 80-54 in the first round of the 2007 NCAA tournament. 

In Jeff Judkins' 14 seasons at BYU, his teams have made the NCAA tournament eight times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015). He has led them to the Sweet Sixteen twice, last season and in 2001-02. The Cougars are 5-10 overall in the 15 NCAA tournament appearances. This season, despite finishing in fifth place in the WCC regular season and earning a No. 5 seed, BYU became the lowest seeded team to win the WCC tournament, beating San Francisco 76-65. For the sixth season in a row, the Cougars have won 20-plus games.

Lexi Eaton, a junior guard, was named to the All-WCC Women's Basketball First Team, the second-straight first team appearance by her. In the WCC tournament, she was named the tournament MVP. Eaton leads the Cougars in scoring with 20.7 points per game. She ranks third in rebounds, pulling down 6.5 boards. Morgan Bailey, a senior forward, was named the 2015 WCC Player of the Year and to the WCC All-Tournament Team. She is second in scoring with 17.3 points per game and first in rebounds, averaging 10.5 boards per game. The team's assists leader is Kylie Maeda, who averages 4.3 assists a game.